Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-08-30

been affected b. the growth of cities or
other development. are now taxed on the
average more nearly at their full value in
money than any other class of property.
And now, in contrast with what demo
cratic editors are now dishonesty trying to
do do Ia prejudice the people unfairly
against the governor. let Us reproduce the
following editorial. which appeared in the
Cincinnati Enquirer, in its issue for the Sth
Cf April, lSS6:
The message of Governor Foraker To the
general assembly on the condition of the
state finances may be set down As the most
commendable thing he has done since he
entered state politics. In his message on
finance and taxation he has ignored party
lines ard addressed himself TO the legisla-
ture in the interest of the people. The
message is plain. business-like statement
of the points. and deserves the attention of
all people. From figures obtained at the
Office of the auditor of state. the governor
ascertans that the casual deficiency of the
state will aggregate about =. 900. 900 on
December l. 1856" The governors theory
appears 10 be that hu compelling the proper
| listing Uf personal pr"pCltY and making d
| fair aud uniform rTludiiOH Gf realty the
state will have abundant revenue. even at a
lower rate Of taxation than We have now.
On the eth of April. lSSs. the following
headlines and editorial appeared in the
central democratic organ. the Columbus
| Daily Times:
FoEAkERs SPECIAL-a DOCUMENT WITH
No UNsoUSD MEANING.
Let the Legislature Follow His Suggestions
and the Hesyily-TaXed People Will Re
joice and Say. well Done, Good and
Faithful Servants
His eNcellency can rest assured that the
Times will aid him all il can to make cor
poratlons. millionaires, etc. pay their hon
est proportion Of the taxes of the state. in
stead of having every poor man who owns
a little home pay the taxes of the state.
In al editorial on state Finances"
printed on the Sth of April. IsS6. the Cleve-
land Plain Dealer. which paper has. prob
ably, larger and stronger democratic fol-
lowing than any other Ohio democratic
paper. said:
The message of Governor Foraker to the
legislature, calling attention to the iinan-
cial affairs of the state. discloses q financial
condition that ought to have careful consid
Grafton and prudent legislative action. A
state OF affairs has come about that requires
prompt and intelligent treatment to avert
very serious evils. and the members of the
legislature ought to give Governor Fora
kers suggestions very careful considera-
ton. The rate of taxation
might be- increased. but the governor thinks,
and justly. that ought TO be done only as a
last resort. The general state levy is about
As high now As the people want to stand.
and there would be very energetic pro-
test if il were increased. Instead Of that,
GorcT10r Foraker recommends tiro erpc-
dicnts, either of which OF both together
would produce the revenue needed. These
are:
First. Indirect taxation upon certain
sorts of business and upon corporations that
do business in the state under special priv
iirges.
Second. Increasing the tax duplicate by
having placed upon il taxable property
that has hitherto managed to evade taxa
tion.
These suggestions will. we think. meet
general approval as statesmanlike. wise.
and proper. The tendency of legislation of
late has been towards indirect taxation. and
the experiment has been very successful in
some states where il has been tried. Com
panies and corporations doing business in
the state and possessing from the state Ger
tain privileges. ought to pay tax TO the
state. As a matter of fact. foreign insur-
ance, telegraph. and express companies
now pay tax in the state. and there is. as
the governor well says, no reasons why
others not now taxed, such as telephone.
transportation, car trust. car equipment,
sleeping. and parlor car companies should
not also pay the state for the privileges and
protection they get from it. This policy
has been pursued in some states until the
greater part of the revenue needed by the !
state is obtained from this system of indi- |
rect taxation. which is burdensOme to no |
body.
On the other point the governor Is sound |
in his views. He calls attention 10 the fact |
that the total property returned Is taxable
in the state is S1.6sO. O19. S6S. while it |
ought 10 be. and would be. il honestly re-
turned. at least three billion OF dollars.
There is not particle Of doubt that the
state is defrauded year after year of at
least One-half Of its just dues in taxes; and
this fraud is practiced by the very men who
are more able TO pay taxes and who ought
10 pay them. The property that ought to
pay tax is kept of the duplicate. and the
burden falls all the more heavily on the
smaller property owners who cannot put
their possessions into such shape that the
assessor is unable TO find il. There is a
monstrOus injustice here that ought to have
a remedy. even though the question of the
states necessities Irere not iHrOlrcd. I'm
and private banks that pay no
tax upon their business. valuable
real estate that is rated far below its real
value. stocks, bonds. securities. credits.
personal properties that are concealed from
the assessor, ought To be made to pay their
fair share of taxation upon just valuation.
II this is done and some fair tax Is put upon
the liquor traffic, and upon outside corpor-
ations doing business in Ohio the, state will
have sufficient revenue for all requirements.
without increasing the general tax levy.
and even with the tax levy much lower
than il now is.
The following editorial appeared in the
Cleveland Plain Dealer April f9. 1856:
Governor FOraker's exposition of the de-
fects of the Ohio tax laws is causing good
zeal of discussion. There is a good deal of
squirming on the part of corporations that
nave valuable franchises in Ohio. for which
they pay nothing. and gentlemen of wealth
who conceal their personal property from
he assessor. The governor told some plain
ruths and told them well. There is no
ustice at all in the present system of taxa
ion in Ohio. The burden falls heaviest
where ii ought TO fall lightest. and the state
; annually defrauded of at least million
iollars justly due it in taxes. The gov
nor's suggestions should be needed and
cted upon. The tax laws need thorough
evision and some system devised that ap-
'orfions taxes justly and equslizes their
'urdens.
SO We see that Governor Foraker's course
5 vindicated by the highest and best of
,rogress of the operations OF partisan CAM
'aign but at time when the editors were
lkely TO utter their honest sentiments. The